Interesting security interaction at Epcot

[Poohsmommi]

I parked at Epcot today to take monorail to TTC and visit Poly and GF. When I got to bag check took several photos of the long lines at security to send to my wife. Checked other bag check area it was long lines took a photo of the crowd. Was getting ready to give up on my plan when a new bag check line opened up I went through bag check and a plains clothed security person immediately introduced himself-very pleasant- said they noticed me taking some photos and wanted to know if I was taking photos of security personnel said no just the crowd. He said ok, couple seconds of small talk and I went on my way to the monorail

Good!

 

[Magpie]

I'm guessing it was due to the MK TTC security incident that happened the other day with a youtuber.
His bag was taken by another guest and security apparently didn't want to help get it back and they just said go talk to guest services so he had some choice words and they didn't like that he was taking photos. Police were called and he was arrested.

It's an odd story...

The moment his bag disappeared, he began accusing security of "stealing" it. He wanted to personally review their security footage to prove that they'd stolen it.

He was asked to leave. An off-duty officer who was working at the parks that day came over to escort him off property. He pulled the whole, "Do you know who I am?" nonsense, and somehow managed to get himself taken down, cuffed and arrested for trespassing. He says he was leaving. The officer says he changed his mind and turned around.

Besides the questionable wisdom of getting into it with Florida constabulary, this guy has a history of pulling dumb stunts for his YouTube channel and has been previously charged with trespassing in Canada due to several "challenges" where he would hide inside of malls, homes(?) and businesses and try to remain after close so he could roam around and film it for his viewers.

I really wonder if this was all just a stunt. Especially since he did, in fact, get his bag back (sort of - the police are hanging onto it for now as "evidence").

https://globalnews.ca/news/4111887/jason-ethier-walt-disney-world-arrest/

(Edit: This is what he was up to a couple years ago: https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/youtu...nt-videos-at-empty-homes-businesses-1.3162991)

 

[KenHutch]

I think that your behavior was very suspicious, and I am glad that security didn’t ignore it.

Really? Taking pictures well they will hate me I take thousands of picture every vacation from security to rides even a few of trash cans.

 

[maxiesmom]

Oh, wow. The inconsistency is nuts. I agree with you!

No inconsistency is what keeps the criminals guessing. If the security check was the same every time it would be easier to defeat.

 

[HopperFan]

Really? Taking pictures well they will hate me I take thousands of picture every vacation from security to rides even a few of trash cans.

I love trash can pictures.

No inconsistency is what keeps the criminals guessing. If the security check was the same every time it would be easier to defeat.

Except random metal screening is pointless, especially when they appear to waive some populations. They need to scan everyone then criminals will know it’s not optional and they will get caught.

 

[Lurch]

It's an odd story...

The moment his bag disappeared, he began accusing security of "stealing" it. He wanted to personally review their security footage to prove that they'd stolen it.

Subsequent news reports have a video showing a uniformed Disney security guard walking away with his bag. He was right, they did take it. I would be more than a little upset too if this happened to me. Hopefully, the Disney security guard will be charged with theft; regardless if he returned the bag.

 

[yulilin3]

I live stream for a Facebook page, we were approached by security shortly after the security process changed at mk/mk resorts. They asked us not to stream security check points, from them on we pause the streams, stop them, put a black cap over our phone lenses or stuck the phone in our purses/backpacks while going through bag check.
I have seen security approach people recording their families while they go through the check tables (they are obviously just documenting their families visit) and been told to please not film that area

 

[nutshell]

A bit surprised we have two pages discussing the issue. You’d think that in this day and age it would be common sense that if you record or photograph a security check point you may very well be questioned.

 

[WorldWalker18]

I agree! A few years ago, at HS, I watched from the bag check line as my husband strolled past a security guard that tried repeatedly to get his attention. It turned out that security spied an unusual bump in DH’s jacket, which was his sunglasses case. I was impressed that they noticed such a small detail and felt pretty confident that appropriate measures were being taken to ensure everyone’s safety.

 

[Summer2018]

Really? Taking pictures well they will hate me I take thousands of picture every vacation from security to rides even a few of trash cans.

Yes, really.

 

[friedela]

I parked at Epcot today to take monorail to TTC and visit Poly and GF. When I got to bag check took several photos of the long lines at security to send to my wife. Checked other bag check area it was long lines took a photo of the crowd. Was getting ready to give up on my plan when a new bag check line opened up I went through bag check and a plains clothed security person immediately introduced himself-very pleasant- said they noticed me taking some photos and wanted to know if I was taking photos of security personnel said no just the crowd. He said ok, couple seconds of small talk and I went on my way to the monorail

maybe it had something to do with this story that happened not long ago about a vlogger getting banned from Disney for video taping security?:

http://eworldpolitics.com/news/fans...oycott-after-magic-kingdom-incident-national/

 

[JerseyJanice]

maybe it had something to do with this story that happened not long ago about a vlogger getting banned from Disney for video taping security?:

http://eworldpolitics.com/news/fans...oycott-after-magic-kingdom-incident-national/

For sure, and I’m pretty sure that the OP has a lot in common with one of the main characters in a child’s book called, “The Three Billy Goats Gruff.”

 

[mikebb]

I'm in the camp thinking it's actually kind of comforting that Disney employs measures like these. Unlike the passive/lazy security theater where uniformed security guards rummage through every mom's diaper bag and grandma's purse, this type of tactic can be used to actively identify people doing something suspicious or out of the ordinary (or to use that that scary un-PC word "profiling" people based on behavior.)

As others have noted, taking pictures of areas (security, backstage, maintenance) that people otherwise wouldn't take vacation photos of should raise at least a small amount of suspicion among those paid to note this behavior.

 

[Magpie]

Subsequent news reports have a video showing a uniformed Disney security guard walking away with his bag. He was right, they did take it. I would be more than a little upset too if this happened to me. Hopefully, the Disney security guard will be charged with theft; regardless if he returned the bag.

Link?

I saw that video, too. And I don't see much of anything happening in it. It's too confusing.

I really, really doubt Disney security is stealing people's belongings at the gate. Sure, some of them might be dodgy people (there are folks like that in any business - and yes, TSA have been caught lifting people's wallets), but why wouldn't they just steal directly out of the lost and found? It'd be a lot less risky. Stealing bags from people during bag check seems... impractical.

It also doesn't seem to have ever happened to anyone else. That we've heard of, of course. But wouldn't it be all over?

Besides, unless he was loudly bragging as he walked past, how would they even know he had all that expensive equipment and "over 1000 dollars in cash" tucked into his bag? They'd be more likely to end up with someone's diapers!

Edited to add: I am well aware I may be being unfair to this blogger. And thinking about this further, I realize it's because I'm generally disinclined to give someone the benefit of the doubt when they have a past history of pulling dumb (and illegal!) stunts for views/likes/monetization of videos.

 

[fractalpotato]

No inconsistency is what keeps the criminals guessing. If the security check was the same every time it would be easier to defeat.

You can't be serious. Inconsistency is not the same as variability. Changing procedures up frequently is an excellent tactic, but having a procedure and executing it poorly is not very effective. The TSA operates in a similar manner and fails nearly, if not every audit exam.

As far as whether or not the behavior is suspicious, I don't think it's especially suspicious given how much of a talking point lines and security at Disney are. That said, I don't see any harm in them just asking you about it, obviously if they felt it was very out of place, you wouldn't have gotten in to the park.

Matt

 

[LVSWL]

I’m in WDW now and I have to say that security has really stepped it up. We went to AK and MK today and every bag was thoroughly checked, every stroller was checked, and every person went through the metal detectors. In addition, bag checks and metal detectors were at the entrance to the monorail from GF, Poly, and Contemporary. It seems that there are much more security guards all around the area. Getting checked went by quickly and I’m not complaining at all. I’d rather everyone get thoroughly checked in this day and age. It makes me feel safe and I can enjoy myself even more knowing that I am safe in the parks.

This is great to hear! Thanks for sharing!

 

[PanamaMike]

I had my own interaction with Security back in January.

The day of the Marathon, I entered Epcot through the International Gateway, made my way to the front entrance and got on the monorail. As we waited to depart, I was talking to a couple and their daughter when a security officer boarded the train and asked me to join him on the platform.

We stepped out, he introduced himself, I introduced myself and he informed me the reason I was being questioned was that someone had seen me writing in a notebook while in the park...the very notebook I was holding in my hand.

I informed him it was my travel journal. It had my itinerary of booked tours, FPs, notes about my experiences, contact info of people I'd pin traded with, hotel reservation numbers, etc.

The entire conversation took less than 30 seconds. He did not ask to look at the journal. He thanked me and I got back on the train, and as we headed to the TTC, I explained to the trio I had just met why I had been questioned.

We were all a bit surprised that someone writing in a book would be tagged as suspicious behavior.

 

[Magpie]

I had my own interaction with Security back in January.

The day of the Marathon, I entered Epcot through the International Gateway, made my way to the front entrance and got on the monorail. As we waited to depart, I was talking to a couple and their daughter when a security officer boarded the train and asked me to join him on the platform.

We stepped out, he introduced himself, I introduced myself and he informed me the reason I was being questioned was that someone had seen me writing in a notebook while in the park...the very notebook I was holding in my hand.

I informed him it was my travel journal. It had my itinerary of booked tours, FPs, notes about my experiences, contact info of people I'd pin traded with, hotel reservation numbers, etc.

The entire conversation took less than 30 seconds. He did not ask to look at the journal. He thanked me and I got back on the train, and as we headed to the TTC, I explained to the trio I had just met why I had been questioned.

We were all a bit surprised that someone writing in a book would be tagged as suspicious behavior.

I doubt "writing in a book" is specifically tagged as suspicious behaviour. More likely, it's unusual and very, very few people do it when they're wandering around the parks. Any behaviour that's different from the usual routine is going to stand out and attract attention.

I'm more curious about the "someone had seen me writing" bit. Did he actually say that? Was he implying that some guest or castmember had contacted him with a concern about you? If it was a castmember, I could see that as being standard operating procedure - whenever you see someone acting out of the ordinary, even in small ways, just mention it to security and let them decide what (if anything) to do about it. If it was a guest, though... man, that person is paranoid!

I'm imagining this lady going to Disney...

 

[DisneyDude71]

Maybe it was the entrance from international gateway, walking to front of park, getting on the monorail that may have caught the attention also.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

If he was nefariously taking pics of security would he admit to it when they asked? Why ask that, just tell him to stop and maybe ask to see the pics. They should put up a “no photography” sign at security checkpoints.